You may have read Chee Jun's posting on the countdown timer that is used at some of the traffic light junctions in Malaysia. I have to say that it is indeed very useful in assisting motorists in deciding whether they should speed up, slow down or come to a stop at a junction. Of course, there are arguments on whether the system actually helps motorists in general as some say that it does not make any difference and some say that it makes things worse.

What ever the case, designer Thanva Tivawong of Thailand has come up with a new traffic light system that utilises LED technology to achieve what he calls a LED Hourglass Design Traffic Light System. The designer says that the "Sand Glass" the LED traffic lights which inspired from the hour glass, one of the original timer that we've use for over century. Easy to see the light's color and estimate how long to wait or hurry to go obviously from the dropping pixels interface like a real sand glass. The countdown number, 3-2-1, appears only while the yellow light's turn on to warn that the light's color will change in a few seconds. That's all make Sand Glass is a sensible communication design for everyone.

It does have some logic to it and doesn't really reinvent the wheel or anything like that. What I know is that if implemented, the system would have found another way on how LED lights could be used in everyday life. And it does look dramatic if you were trying to race that riced up hot hatch that is right beside you at the traffic lights.